The Fix Is In for Broken Government

“They can’t complete a project, like building a bridge or updating a computer system, without it being late, over budget, or even obsolete by the time of completion.” That’s venture capitalist Tim Draper on California government, and he’s right. As we have observed, the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge was 10 years late, $5 billion over budget, and serious questions remain about its safety. The state’s bullet train project is supposed to cost $68 billion, will likely be slower and more expensive than air travel, and doesn’t take people where they need to go. These boondoggles are not the only evidence that government violates the maxim: if it ain’t broke, don’t break it.

As the San Jose Mercury News noted, there is “no shortage of ideas for fixing government. FixCal.org may be something to watch.” Taxpayers and think tanks should keep the ideas coming. And with so many corrupt politicians going to jail, Mr. Draper might expand the categories to include criminal justice. Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association suggests limiting politicians to two terms, one in office and one in prison. As he observes, “Illinois already does this, and it seems to be working.”

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